Johnny Ludlow, First Series

mony. He had married a widow, Mrs. Tanerton: she had a good deal of money and two boys, and the parish thought the new lady might be above them. But she pro

ded it, "knowing he would do what was right and just by her sons." As Parson Lewis was an upright man with a conscience of his own, it was supposed

its to the Parsonage, which saved her cupboard at home; but it was said that Mrs. Lewis did not like her, thinking her deceitful, and they did not get on very well together. Pa

n with a mild face and fair skin, and had a sort of purring manner with her. Scarcely speaking above her breath, and saying "dear" and "love" at every sentence, and caressing people to their faces, t

erself as brave as a martyr. Jack was so brave and fearless himself and made so little of hurts, that she felt a sort of shame at giving way to her natural timidity when with him. What Alice liked best was to sit indoors by Herbert's side while he was at his lessons, and read story books and fairy tales. Jack was the opposite of all that, and a regular renegade in all kinds of study. He would have liked to pitch the books into the fire, and did not even care for fairy tales. They came often

t was already three parts as good as accomplished. To see Herbert and Alice poring over books together side by side and to know that they had the same tastes, was welcome to her as the sight of gold. As to Jack, with his roving propensities, his climbing and his daring, she thought it little matter if he came down a tree head-foremost some day,

unday's sermon. He did not get on very quickly, for Aunt Dean was in there also, and it disturbed him a little. Sh

hese inkstands, Jacob? It is not necess

don't see that they do any harm there, Rebecca. The

k-case, and then looked round the room to see w

wered the note old Mullet brought this

in this way he took quite as a matter

fore answering it. I want to know, you see

ressingly said. "The parish mu

ily; "but I like to live

inst the walnut-tree, doing nothing. Alice sat near on a stool, her head buried in a book that by its canvas cover Mrs. Dean knew to be "Robinson

Alice. And the words came distinctly

hem off the trees for yourself," cried

e temptation was not to be resisted; and she ran a

go amongst those raspberry bushes;

her frock, aunt,"

is her new muslin frock, and she mu

usoe," and Jack went his way amongst th

what John is to be?" resumed Aunt

ort of patient hopelessness, and turned roun

swered. "I fancy it is

g was being mentioned about it, Jack said he did not care w

cob, dear," observed Mrs. Dean, in ominous tones, t

studious as his brother. Why have you sh

eard. When any question not quite convenient to answer was put to her, she had a way of

Jacob, you will ma

you suppose that, Rebecca? I think the

think so? Your dead wife l

the slightest hint that she should wish any difference

s heir; it is right and proper it should be so: Jack must be trained to earn his own livelihood. Jack-dear fellow!-is, I

larger portion than to Jack-I don't know that it would be right. A he

ght-hundred a year. And you must

s from Worcester, and a hundred a year out of it that my wife desired the poor old nurse should have till she died, there's not a great de

ly!-just like him!

Jack to college. You should try and get him s

her had not had any opinion of foreign places. Jack himself interrupted the conversation. He came flying up the path

, his handsome face and good-natured eyes bright and sparkling. "They

called him her darling, and Mr

ated man-and Mrs. Dean slightly knitted her brows. "Your a

awhile?" re

suitably educated

ed Jack, leaning his arms on the window-sill, and jumping up a

ace. This had never ente

ng higher than that; some profession by which you may rise in the wo

barrister, father? Like those bewigged fellows

that,

father; and read up millions of books before the

-class lawyer, then? I might place

afraid if I were at a desk I should kick it over without knowing it: I must be running o

r till autumn, and the parson never rose up against it. She let her house during her absence: it was situated on the banks of the river a little way from Liverpool, near the plac

st climber and walker and leaper, and withal the best-hearted young fellow that Timberdale could boast: and he knew about land thoroughly, and possessed a great stock of general and useful and practical information. Many a day when some of the poorer farm

dinned into him so often now, in her apparently frank and reasoning way, that he began to lend an ear to it. What with his strict sense of justice, and his habit of yield

not seem to miss him, but went out on their rambles together as they did when children. The morning before Herbert was expected, a letter came fr

incited him to write for Herbert to return at once. Herbert's answer to this was a courteous intimation that he could not alter his plans

the Rector. "I'm afraid it was foolish of me to object at all. Perhaps I have not the right to

est and the worst of it; but s

t out for a stroll, and reached the high steep bank where the primroses and violets

you know, Alice, when we

thought she heard the sound of a kiss. Peep

e, I should like it best of all. We'll keep two jol

Anything you like. A successful fa

she did turn angry, and registered a vow in her heart. That presuming, upstart Jack! They were o

hool until midsummer. The parson and his sister and Jack were left alone; and Aunt Dean, with her soft smooth

t bitter notions possible against farming in general; and Mr. Lewis, not much liking the thing hims

e or four years to some good agriculturist, and I'll be bound at the end of the time I should be fit to

not be self-willed. I ca

make a sailor of me," returned J

ack, and he had a horror of the sea. "No

went on Jack, the idea full in his head. "Aunt Dean lent me 'P

would not have liked it, and I don't

away to sea," sa

cold water had been thrown down his

n, "disobedience to parents sometimes brings a curse wit

ut I will promise never to go without your conse

nd there: in comparison with the other it looked quite fair and bright. But he thought he migh

e a farmer, she laughed till the tears came into her eyes, and begged him to leave matters to her. She knew how to manage boys, without appearing directly t

nt over in his gig to Worcester, and bought a book he had heard of, "Two Years before the Mast." H

left it on the sitting-room table when he went up to bed, and it mysteriously disappeared duri

in a doubtful manner, her eyes full of wonder as to where the bo

had not been the least suspicious parson in all the Worcester Diocese, he might have asked his siste

lied that she meant him to see the worst sides of sea life, the dirty boats in the Mersey, the wretchedness of the crews, and the real discomfort and misery of a sailor's existence. That

, and Mrs. Dean sent them word they could not have it this year: at least not for the present. While she put matters straight, she supplied Jack with all Captain Marryat's novels to read. The house looked on the river, and Jack would watch the fine vessels starting on their long

were discontented, she allowed him to roam at will on the finest ships, and make acquaintance with their enthusiastic young officers, especially with those who we

she had introduced him-how much he should like to sail in her. The owners thought it would be an advantageous thing to get so active, open, and ready a lad into their service, although he was somewhat

old Jack she washed her hands of it, and recommended him to wri

h sending affectionate messages in Aunt Dean's letters. Consequently, Mr. Lewis only knew what Aunt Dean had chosen to tell him, a

magnificent ship ever launched; that the owners bore the best character in Liverpool for liberality, and Captain Druce for kindness to his middies; and that he hoped, oh he hoped, his f

e letter, Aunt Dean, befo

ought it was as good a letter and as much to the purpose as the best

tests writing, as you know. Tell him that if he consents he need not write any a

ld like him to wish me

is heart and the other in his praye

d he added that if no answer arrived within two posts, he should take it for granted that he was to go,

ack," she said, when it wa

ather: and then I shall know it's off. Oh, shan't I be

could be stopped. Aunt Dean had a curious look on her face,

hed for the postman, and hastened to the door herself to receive what he might bring. He brought two letters-as it chanced. One from the Rect

en here, aunt!" cried the boy,

brought a let

ng from Ti

father might like to take a little time for consideration. You may read Al

ully disappointed. "Why, I shall have sailed

ill see her when y

n was expected, he placed himself outside the door to wait for him. The man bro

said Jack, only half satisfied. "But I wish I

d, you know, Jack, silence

h, and made certain. I wish there was time for

e the ship. Get a piece of paper and make out a list o

departure he wrote a short letter of farewell to his stepfather, thanking him for his tacit consent, and promising to do his best to get on, concluding it

she bolted herself into her chamber, and opened Mr. Lewis's letter, which had lain untouched till then. As she expected, it contained a positive interdiction, written half sternly, half lovingly, for John to sail in the Rose of

while telling the news to the Squire. He feared he had failed somehow in bringing John up, he said, or he never would have repaid him with this base disobedience and ingratitude. For, you see, the poo

e of the letter, and affecting to believe that Jack could not have had it. But the parson argued that Jack must have had it, and did have it, or it would have come back to him. The only o

Jack would be wanton waste, she urged, for he would be sure to squander it: better bequeath all to Herbert, who would of course look after his brother in later life, and help him if he need

d he felt racked with fear lest he had taken too severe a measure, and one that his late wife, the true owner of the money and John'

love of adventure, never looked at the step in the light of ingratitude. I cannot cut him quite off; I should never again find peace of mind if I did it. He sh

g he had reconsidered his determination and would let Jack

Coneys'. Grace Coney, a niece of old Coney, had come to live at the farm; she was a nice girl, and she and Alice liked each other. You might see them with Herbert strolling ab

harles Ashton, then just ordained to priest's orders, took the duty. Mrs. Dean came back again

ws of her mother's house, gazing wistfully on the sparkling sea, when a grand and stately vessel came sailing homewards, and some brown-faced young fellow on the quarter deck set on to swing his cap

ed Alice in his arms and kissed her ever so many times before she could get free. Being a grown-up young lady now, she did not

ling, he meant to stand by it. He went to Timberdale, in spite of Aunt Dean's advice and efforts to keep him away. Herbert was absent, she said; the Rector ill and childish. Jack found it all too true. Mr. Lewis's mind

poke of the postscript that Aunt Dean had bade him add to his letter, arranging that silence should be taken for consent, and that as no answer had come, he of course had so taken it, the girl turned sick and faint. She sa

s, as most young sailors are, and the board once went the length of complimenting him on his answers. The fact was, Jack held to his word of doing his best; he got into no mischief and was the smartest sailor afloat. He was in consequence a favourite with the owners, and Captain Druce took pains with him and brought him on in seamanship and n

rbert Tanerton was now his stepfather's curate. Herbert had passed as shiningly in mods and divinity and all the rest of it as Jack had passed before the Marine Board. He was a steady, thoughtful, serious young man, did his

m most of the day, leaving Alice to be taken care of by Herbert. They went about together just as always, an

son believe she had no one's interest at heart in the world but his: "my darling boy, is it not almost time you bega

red as a school-girl, and glanced half-

have a living to thin

uld have thought you might bring

redness. Aunt Dean was eminently satisfied; his confusion and his hasty gl

was singing in the trees, he passed peacefully to his Rest. Just before death he recover

the rest. Aunt Dean made a hideous frown for once in her life; a hundred and fifty pounds a year for Jack, was only, as she looked upon it, so much robbery on Herbert and Alice. Out of the little money saved by the Rec

is own course was uncertain until a fresh Rector should be appointed. The living was in the gift of a neighbouring baronet, and it was fancied by some that he might give it to Herbert. One thing d

uce had been left behind at Calcutta, dangerously ill. Alice's colour came and went. She looked out for the homeward-bound ves

on the shipping news in the morning paper, and read the announce

uietly passing over the newspa

ir sticking in Jack's name as captain! He will have to go down again as

ely and quickly," Alice ventured to say. "

after

ight faded-which would have been the truth. "Had it

anent command of the Rose of Delhi. The last mail had brought news from Captain Druce that he should never be well enough for the command again, and the owners were only too

he whole, Aunt Dean? Fancy a young fellow li

cky," return

st, handsome face, and the quick keen eye of a sailor. Jack was particular in his

Herbert may require more than I, poor fellow," he added in his good nature; "he may not get a

Jack, and will have no use

my father thought it right to leave it so, and I am conten

n ever the Rose of Delhi hoped to be. Jack and Alice discussed matters between

ogether in the summer twilight. At first Mrs. Dean thought Alice was joking: she was

you wicked girl? Marry your own brother-in-law!-it would

rt would not have me, mamma; nor would I

cried M

nown it all along. He will marry her as soon as his future is settled. I had prom

ng her shelter she must have turned out in the world when her father died and e

nd will make him a perfect wife. Herbert would no

cried poor Mrs. Dean, all her golden visions fast melting into air.

should neither of us marry any one else. There is nothing to wait for; Jack is as well off as

her people had been all pretence, but she did love h

marry a sailor, Alice

in the world. I should have liked him to have had land and farmed it. We should have done well. Jack had his four hundred a year clear, you k

at were crowding upon her. The mista

," she repeated, wringing her hands. "A sai

in the Rose of Delhi. The owners have consented, and Jack is fitt

seas in a merchant ship!"

sail without me. Mother, it is you alone who have

morse, she was beginning to see it; and

erable prosp

deal more besides. Jack's pay is settled at twenty pounds a month, and he will make more by commission: perhaps as much again. Have no fear for

Alice! The dang

the sea as well as on land and will take care of those who put their trust in Hi

ed from them. In her bitter repentance, she lay on the floor of her room that night a

, that he should restore an equal share of the property to Jack. Herbert replied that he should abide by his stepfather's will. The living of Timberdale was not a rich on

the captain's wife. And Aunt Dean was left to bemoan her fate, and wish she had never tried to shap